Planned Amazon data center could become the biggest climate polluter in the U.S.

Amazon is moving forward with plans for a new data center in Pecos County, Texas, which includes an investment in an on-site power plant that could potentially become the single largest source of climate pollution in the United States, according to a report by The New York Times.

The report notes that the facility will operate by burning natural gas and holds permits allowing it to release 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually—surpassing any other power generation facility in the country.

In an official statement, an Amazon spokesperson defended the project, confirming that the data center will rely on new on-site generation designed specifically to avoid raising electricity costs for Texas families. Data centers are currently facing heightened political scrutiny regarding their strain on local power grids and utility pricing.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

"The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge, but our commitment hasn’t changed."

Amazon spokesperson

Artificial intelligence has already left a measurable footprint on Amazon's environmental metrics, with the company reporting a 16% surge in carbon emissions last year—moving in the opposite direction of its stated pledge to eliminate carbon emissions entirely by 2040. This trend risks accelerating as technology companies back massive natural gas infrastructure to sustain power-hungry data centers.

Source: TechCrunch